Releasable metal scaffolding connector



Oct. 17, 1961 1'. c. JUCULANO RELEASABLE METAL SCAFFOLDING CONNECTOROriginal Filed Dec. 21, 1959 2 Shasta-Sheet 1 b Jmdwfimd Thea qr 5'.Juan Zana Oct. 17, 1961 T. c. JUCULANO RELEASABLE mam. scm-"owmcCONNECTOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Dec. 21. 1959 JmJw Theadare C1Juaulana United States Patent ution; matter printed in italics indicatesthe additions made by reissue.

This invention relates to readily releasable connectors for fasteningtwo or more structural members together, and refers more particularly toa connector for metal scafiolding by which one end of a diagonal bracemember may be securely but readily releasably anchored to a mainscafiold member.

As is well known, metal scaffolding is made up of socallcd panels, eachof which comprises a pair of tubular uprights connected and held inparallel spaced apart relation by means of transverse members. When ametal scaffold is erected, the panels are held upright and in uniformlyspaced apart alignment by means of tubular diagonal braces detachablyanchored to the uprights of each panel, near their upper and lower ends.Each diagonal usually has its end portions flattened and apertured toreceive a stud-like connector element.

Obviously, the connectors by which the diagonals are secured to the mainpanel members are a critically important element in the scaffolding,since such connectors must provide for very secure anchorage of thediagonals but must also provide for quick and easy locking and releasingof the diagonals in order to facilitate and expedite assembly anddisassembly of the scaffolding.

The general object of this invention is to provide an improved connectorfor metal scatiolding and the like by which a tubular diagonal brace maybe very securely but readily releasably anchored to an upright, andwhich connector is completely self-contained in that it has nocomponents that can be separated from the scaffolding panel of which itforms a part.

Another object of this invention resides in the provision of areleasable connector for very securely but readily releasably locking anapertured detachable member to another relatively fixed member, whichconnector features a fixed stud upon which the apcrtured member isadapted to be engaged to be held by the stud against movement laterallyrelative to the stud, and an axially movable locking member adapted tobe telescoped over the stud to releasably confine the detachable memberagainst axial movement relative to the stud.

' It is also a specific object of this invention to provide a connectorfor metal scaifolding, adapted to comprise a part of an uprightscaffolding member, which connector has an unthreaded male connectingmember or stud over which the apertured end portion of a diagonal membermay be slipped without danger that threads on the stud will be worn ordamaged, but wherein the diagonal member is nevertheless clampingly heldby the connector by reason of the provision of a threaded locking memberwhich cooperates with the stud.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, this invention resides in the novel construction,combination and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafterdescribed and'more particularly defined by the appended claims, it beingunderstood that such changes in the precise embodiment of thehereindisclosed invention may be made as come within the scope of theclaims,

Re. 25,053 Reissued Oct. 17, 1961 The accompanying drawings illustrateseveral complete examples of the physical embodiments of the inventionconstructed according to the best mode so far devised for the practicalapplication of the principles thereof, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of an erected metal scaffoldincorporating connectors embodying the principles of this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of a portion of a metal scafioldingupright equipped with a connector of this invention shown in itsunlocked or open position;

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 but showing the connector in itslocked position with a diagonal brace anchored to the upright by theconnector;

FIGURE 4 is a front elevational view of a modified embodiment of theconnector of this invention, shown in its open position;

FIGURE 5 is a side elevational view of a modification in unlocked oropen position of the connector shown in FIGURE 2. 7

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings, thenumeral 5 designates generally an erected metal scaffold whichcomprises, in general, a plurality of end panels 6 held upright and inspaced apart alignment by diagonal braces 7. Each end panel comprises apair of tubular uprights 8 which are held in spaced apart parallelrelationship by transverse members 9 that are welded or otherwiserigidly secured to the uprights. The uprights of all of the panels areof uniform length, and every panel has the same spacing between uprightsso that the panels comprise modular units which can be built up bothvertically and horizontally.

The diagonal braces 7 which cooperate with the modular panels to holdthem upright and properly spaced apart are usually formed of tubularstock having flattened and apertured end portions 10 which provide forsecurement of the diagonals to the uprights of the panels by means ofconnectors 11 of this invention. A con-- nector is located near the topand near the bottom of each upright, and each diagonal is secured to anupper connector on one upright and to a lower connector on an upright ofan adjacent panel, so that the two diagonals 7 at each side of each pairof adjacent panels cross between panels, as at 12, to define triangleswhich afiord rigidity and strength to the erected scafiold structure.

For purposes of illustration the connector 11 of this invention isdescribed herein with particular reference to its application to metalscafiolding, but it will be understood that it has general utility forany type of device in which an apertured detachable member must be veryrigidly and securely but readily releasably locked to a relatively fixedmember.

The connector, as best seen in FIGURES 2 and 3. comprises a stud 13which may be secured to an upright 8 as by welding and which projectslaterally outwardly from the upright, to extend through a substantiallyclose, ly fitting aperture 14 in the flattened end portion of a diagonalbrace 7 when the same is slipped axially onto the stud. Suitably a blankunthreaded bolt may be used for the stud, it being observed that thesmooth shank of the stud facilitates installation of the diagonal braceonto it, while the head 15 of the blank bolt can be easily welded to theupright.

Cooperating with the stud to confine an apertured member such as adiagonal 7 against axially outward movement off of it is an enlongatedlocking member 16 mounted in a carrier or bracket 17 for endwisemovement coaxially with the stud toward and from telescoping engagementwith the stud. [The] In the embodiment of the invention illustrated, thecarrier which supports the locking member is substantially U-shaped,having its legs amass 18' secured to the upright 8 above and below thestud and its bight portion 19 extending across the axis of the stud andspaced outwardly from the outer end thereof. us] With this constructionthe stud is intermediate the legs of the carrier, spaced from both ofthem, and the stud and the legs of the carrier are disposed substandailyin a common plane which preferably lies on the axisof the upright.

The bight portion 19 of the carrier being spaced out from the post, maybe considered an outboard support for the shaft-like locking member 16which'extends transversely through the bight portion 19 [of the carrier]and has an enlarged socket portion 20 at its inner end, a winged head 21at its outer end, and a medial threaded portion 2 2, all of which arecoaxial with one another.

The socket portion 20 at the inner end of the locking member has asubstantially larger outside diameter than the stud, and has a coaxialinwardly opening well 23 in which the stud is receivable, so that thesocket-like inner end portion of the locking member can be telescopedover the outer end portion of the stud when the locking member is in itsmost inward position of axial movement. The transverse bore 24 in thebracket through which the-locking member slidably extends'has as'mallerdiameter than the socket portion of the locking member, so thatthesocket portion prevents the locking member from being axially withdrawnout of the bight of the bracket. Attention is directed to the tact thatthe inner end of thelocking member is spaced a substantial distance fromthe outer end of the stud when the locking member is moved to itsoutermost or open position, at which its socket portion engages thebight of the bracket around the box-e24.

The threaded medial portion22 of the lockingv member is adapted tocooperate with a mating internal thread on a fixed part on the bracketor carrier. In this instance the ternale thread is provided by'asuitable nut 25 welded or otherwise permanently secured to the bightportion of the bracket at the outer face thereof, coaxially with thebore 24. The threaded medial portion 22 of the locking member has aslightly larger diameter than the unthreaded shank portion 26 which isinwardly adjacent thereto, so that the locking member is'free to slideaxially in the bore 24 between its open position and an intermediateposition in which the socket portion 20 approaches telescopingengagement with the stud, at which point the medial threaded portion 22of the locking member engages the mating internal thread provided by thenut 25, and further inward motion of the locking member to its fullylocked position can be efi ected by screwing it into the nut.

'Ihe winged head 21 on the locking member may comprise a wing nutthreaded onto its rear end portion and secured against rotation relativeto the locking member shaft by staking or peening.

It will be evident that when the locking member is withdrawn axially toits fully open position the flattened and apertured end portion of adiagonal brace can be moved laterally into the space between the studand the inner end of the locking member and then slipped axially ontothe stud. Thereafter the locking member is moved axially inwardly untilitsthreaded medial portion 22 engages with the internal thread in thenut 25, whereupon the locking member is screwed inwardly to telescopeits socket portion over the stud and clampingly confine the aperturedend portion of the diagonal brace against the head of the stud.Obviously the diagonal brace'can be quickly detached from the upright ifthe locking member is screwed outwardly and the brace withdrawn axiallyoff of the study afterthe locking member isfree of the nut. Obviously,too, more than one diagonal brace or other female member can be securedto the stud, as suggested by FIGURE 4 wherein twodiagonal braces areanchored to an upright by the connector 11, with the flattenedandapertured end portions 10 of the diagonal braces flatwise overlyingone another,

The embodiment ofthe invention illustrated in FIG- URE 5 has advantagesin lower cost and greater simplicity than that described above, althoughit possesses the disadvantage of having a threaded stud 13' upon whichthe female memberyis adapted to be recived, so that it is best suitedfor thds'einstallations where it will receive careful handlin'g'f Thestud 13" is an ordinary bolt having its-head 15' welded or otherwisefixed to an upright 8, while the, locking member 16' is cyl.in dricaland has a diameter which may be uniform along its length but which isgreater than that'of the stud. The locking member 16' is mounted in asmooth, substantially closely fitting transverse bore 24' in the bightportion 19' of the bracket 17', for lengthwise in and out movementcoaxially with the stud.

Opening to the inner end of the locking member .16 is a coaxial threadedwell 23 by which the locking member may be telescopingly screwed ontothe stud. Axial withdrawal of the locking member out of the bracket isprevented by an outwardly facing abutment 27 on the. locking member,near its inner end, which in this case is shown as a circumferentialshoulder that engages the inner face of the bight portion 19 of thebracket to define. the fully open position of the locking member.

From the foregoing description taken together with the accompanyingdrawings, it will be apparent thatthis invention provides a readilyreleasable connector for securing an apertured member, such as adiagonal brace for metal scafiolding, to a relatively fixed member, suchas an upright of a metal scaffolding panel, which connector is simple,inexpensive and dependable and has no parts that can become disconnectedfrom the relativel fixed member.

What is claimed as my invention is:

1. A connector for readily detachably securing a removable member havingan aperture therethrough to ,a relatively fixed member, said connectorcomprising a [substantially U-shaped] bracket [having its legs] securedto said relatively fixed member and projecting outwardly from a surfacethereon with a part [to hold the bight portions] of the bracket spacedfrom and substantially parallel to said surface; 'a stud fixed to saidrelatively fixed member adjacent to [intermediate the legs of] thebracket and projecting outwardly from said surface toward and partway tosaid part [the bight portion] of the bracket so that a removable membercan be inserted between said part [the bight portion] of the bracket andthe outer end of the stud and then moved axially inwardly relative tothe stud to engage the latter in an aperture in the removable member; anelongated locking member having an inner end portion which issubstantially larger in diameter than the outer end portion of the studand having a coaxial well opening to its inner end in which the stud isaxially receivable, said locking member being mounted in said part [thebight portion] of the bracket for endwise movement coaxially withrespect to the stud between a locked position in which the inner endportion of the locking member is telescopedover the stud to confine aremovable member engaged with the stud against outward movement axiallyoff of the stud, and an unlocked position in which the inner end of thelocking member is axially spaced from theouter end of the stud; andcooperating means on the locking member and on a fixed part of theconnector for releasably securing the locking member in its lockedposition.

2. The connector, of claim 1 wherein said last named means comprises athread on the outer end portion of the stud and a mating internal threadin the well in the locking member.

3. Theconnector of. claim 1 wherein said last named means comprisesanexternal thread on the medial portion of the locking member and, acooperating internal thread in said part [the bight portion] of thebracket.

4. The connector of claim 1 further characterized by the fact that thebracket is U-shaped and has its legs s cured to the relatively fixedpart at opposite sides of the stud, and wherein said part of the bracketconstitutes the bight portion of the U, and further characterized by thefact that a portion of the locking member which is axially outward ofsaid inner end portion thereof is smaller in diameter than said innerend portion of the locking member and is enclwise slidable in asubstantially closely fitting bore in the bight portion of the bracketso that the larger diameter inner end portion of the locking memberprecludes axial withdrawal of the locking member all the way out of thebracket.

5. On a relatively fixed member, a connector for readily releasablyanchoring to the relatively fixed member a removable member which has anaperture therethrough, said connector comprising: a stud secured on therelatively fixed member and projecting outwardly from a surface thereof,substantially normal to said surface, for engagement in an aperture in aremovable member to confine the latter against movement laterallyrelative to the stud; means providing a carrier secured on therelatively fixed member and extending across the axis of the stud;spaced outwardly from the outer end thereof; an elongated locking memberhaving an inner end portion which is substantially larger in diameterthan the outer end portion of the stud and having a coaxial well openingto its inner end in which the stud is axially receivable, said lockingmember being mounted in said carrier for endwise motion coaxially withrespect to the stud between a locked position in which the inner endportion of the locking member is telescoped over the stud to confine aremovable member engaged with the stud against outward movement axiallyoff of the same, and an unlocked position in which the inner end of thelocking member is axially spaced from the outer end of the stud; andcooperating means on the locking member and on a fixed part of theconnector for releasably holding the locking member in its lockedposition.

6. On a post, a connector for readily detachably anchoririg an aperturedend portion of a brace to the post, the connector comprising an outboardsupport fixed to the post and overlying the post at one side thereof inspaced relation thereto, said support having an internally threaded holetherein the axis of which is perpendicular to the adjacent side of thepost; a clamping screw threaded in said internally threaded hole; anabutment on the clamping screw facing the adjacent side of the post toclamp the apertured end portion of the brace against the side of thepost as the clamping screw is tightened; and inter-engageable male andfemale parts one of which is on the post and the other on the clampingscrew, the male part being engageable in the aperture in the brace whenthe screw is in a position in which its abutment is spaced from thepost, entry of the male part into the aperture in the brace holding theapertured end portion of the brace in position to be clamped between theabutment on the screw and the side of the post, and said male and femaleparts being engaged when the screw is tightened to clamp the aperturedend portion of the brace against the adjacent side of the post.

References Cited in the file of this patent or the original patentUNITED STATES PATENTS 2,726,902 Bergman et al. Dec. 13, 1955 2,830,855Hyre Apr. 15, 1958 2,831,734 Rapoport et al. Apr. 22, 1958

